Lips that Touched the Fire (Valderrama Series #1)

Prologue

I silently cried when I heard a loud raucous near me. Napaangat ako ng tingin at bahagyang nanlaki ang mata nang makita ang batang lalaki na kausap ko kanina.

He swiftly wiped the sweat on his forehead after he placed the woven basket on the soil. Napatingin din siya sa akin at mukhang nagulat din nang nakita ako. "Umiiyak ka ba?" asking the obvious, parang natatawa sa itsura ko. Ang tingin niya ay diretso sa akin, hindi umaalis.

We were both drenched in sweat from the heat of the sun. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang itsura ko ngayon pero I'm sure that there are still traces of my tears left on my cheeks. My eyes are probably now swollen from all that crying.

Pinaningkitan ko siya sa mata. "Obvious naman diba!" iritable kong sinabi as I wiped my tears. Nakakainis naman ang lalaking ito! Halata namang umiiyak ako diba? Magtatanong pa talaga?

He sauntered to me and crouched, he gave me a small white handkerchief. "Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi ko pa yan nagagamit. Malinis 'yan" he said while offering me the handkerchief.

Nanliit ang mata ko sa kaniya bago siya inirapan. Mabilis kong hinablot galing sa kaniya ang panyo at agad na pinunasan ang mga luha ko. Surprisingly, mabango ang panyo niya!

"Bakit ka ba umiiyak?" tanong niya. His brows furrowed as he leaned forward.

"Because I'm lost!" bulyaw ko.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin kanina?"

"Kasi hindi ko pa alam na nawawala ako. Saka ko na nalamang nawala na pala ako nung umalis ka" sagot ko.

He snickered at my answer but he tried to hide it from me. Alam kong natatawa siya sa akin at hindi ko alam kung bakit niya pinipigilan ang sarili na tumawa. Ayos lang sa akin na pagtawanan niya ako, if a lowlife like him can reach my level.

"Bakit ka napunta dito?"

Inis ko siyang nilingon. "Ano ba, bakit ang dami mong tanong? Gusto ko nang umuwi!" I whined and glared at him. I then covered my face with my soft palms.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya. "Sumama ka sa akin. I'll escort you the way to the exit" aniya sa mahinahong boses.

Tumayo ako at dali-daling pinagpag ang damit. I'm a bit dirty. Dust stuck onto my pink vintage dress. Some mud are slightly scattered on my lavish doll shoes that my parents bought me for my 11th birthday. I then followed him quietly.

Napagtanto kong nagta-trabaho pala siya dito. Based from what I saw earlier and until now, he was carrying this huge woven basket. I saw other people in the vicinity, lifting woven baskets with flowers inside, like his.

Dumaan kami sa kung saan ako napahinto kanina. Napaawang ang bibig ko habang nakatanaw sa mga bulaklak. The flowers looked like they were from those magical movies with enchanted gardens, ravishing and appealing.

"Uh, ano pala ang tawag sa mga bulaklak na 'yan?" I asked him and pointed at the bush of flowers. I realized that we're too quiet and I don't like the awkward silence between us, even though I don't know how to start a conversation with a stranger.

Napatingin siya sa tinuro ko at agad ibinalik ang tingin sa daanan. "They're called hydrangeas" tipid niyang sagot sa akin.

My mouth formed an "O" when I heard its name. What a nice name for a good-looking flower. I then pouted when I realized that his reply is too short.

"Do hydrangeas grow here in Antique, that much?" tanong ko ulit sa kaniya.

"I don't know. They said that hydrangeas are very much rare here in Antique. Dito lang ata sa Valderrama ang may pinakamalaking plantation ng hydrangeas"